VINDICATION IS AT HAND!

She’s been off the show for a year now, but New Dundee resident Chrissy
Schmidt’s role as an abused teen in a controversial episode of the
Canadian
youth series, Degrassi: The Next Generation, has finally been
recognized
with two nominations at the U.S.-based Young Artist Awards.

“It’s what I worked for,” says the 17-year-old Cameron Heights grad,
nominated as best supporting young actress and, with nine other cast
members, as Outstanding Young Performers in a TV Series.

“It makes me feel great about the show I was on. It’s good that a
Canadian
artist has been recognized for her acting.”

Schmidt played Teri MacGregor, an underconfident teenager whose
relationship
with the school psycho — a smooth-talking control freak with anger
management issues — ended with him smashing her head into a rock at
the end
of last season.

“I couldn’t be happier for Chrissy being recognized,” says Linda
Schuyler,
the Toronto series’ executive producer. “Because it was such an
important
storyline and she did such a believable job. It was a very tough role
to
play.”

In the best supporting young actress category, Schmidt — now taking
acting
classes in Toronto before heading off to study travel and tourism at
college
— goes up against Danielle Bouffard (Doc), Vivien Cardone (Everwood),
Megan
Fox (Hope and Faith), Sarah Ramos (American Dreams) and Alia Shawkat
(Arrested Development).

For the group nomination, Degrassi competes with American shows All
That,
That’s So Raven and Unfabulous.

The awards — restricted to performers under age 18 — will be handed
out
April 30 in Los Angeles.

Win or lose, Schmidt says Degrassi’s enduring popularity is a thrill in
itself.

“When I was in L.A. last year, I was walking down the street and I hear
‘Teri! Teri! — I saw you on Degrassi last night!”‘ she laughs, noting
the
series is rerun constantly on American cable.

“Sometimes when I go to the mall (in Toronto), I sign 50 autographs!”

Young people wanting to hear Schmidt’s take on acting, fame and the
audition
process can attend a Waterloo region children’s drama workshop at the
Registry Theatre, 122 Frederick St., on May 7.